Capitol Hill Corner has learned that the Barracks Row Main Street (BRMS) Board of Directors is considering a $500,000 contract with architect Amy Weinstein’s design group to commission a study for a new design concept for Eastern Market Metro Plaza and Park; also under consideration is a proposal by Minerva Marketing to manage public relations for the process. Chairman of the BRMS Board Tip Tipton submitted the contract and proposal to board members on Monday for consideration, asking them to hold them as confidential until the Board had been canvassed. He requested a response by 5:00pm on Thursday April 25, 2013, saying “we need to sign the agreements and expedite their implementation.”

Tipton told the Board in a memorandum that the study will be funded with federal monies appropriated by Congress several years ago for BRMS to undertake a study of a redesign of the Eastern Market Metro Plaza and its associated parcels. Expiring authority for some of these funds require that they be spent this fall. The Tipton letter says that that, in addition to these expiring funds, “BMRS has over a million dollars from other congressionally appropriated funds.” Implicit in the remark is the earmarking of these funds for planning and development of this project.

The study area is the large rectangle bounded by 7th and 9th Streets, SE, bisected diagonally by Pennsylvania Avenue, and made up primarily of two large spaces: Metro Plaza on the south side of Pennsylvania Avenue and the park lying on the north side between 8th and 9th Streets, SE, (the “north parcel”). Weinstein takes pains to say that plans under consideration do not include any changes to the Pennsylvania Avenue right of way, stating that “design improvements (will) retain the existing roadbed network with perhaps minor modifications to improve pedestrian safety.”

A previous 2007 – 2010 effort to develop a $30 million “Town Square Project” in the study area foundered, both for lack of funding and because of opposition from the residents who would have been negatively affected by the plan to change the existing right of way. The documents circulated by BRMS do not mention the issue of funding, but reference “minority” opposition from neighbors as the primary reason for the failure of that proposal.

As justification for moving this project forward now, the Weinstein proposal cites community development momentum, including the following: the newly developed Hill Center; redevelopment of The Maples (Friendship House) and loss of its children’s play area; Capital BikeShare; the 11th Street Bridge project; the proposed Southeast Boulevard and redesign of Barney Circle; CSX Rail Tunnel; Marine Barracks expansion south of the Freeway; and the Hine School Redevelopment (Weinstein is also the architect for the Hine project.)

Under the terms of the proposed contract, Weinstein would develop a design concept leading to a “visual and functional improvement of the study area,” directed at establishing the long sought link between Barracks Row/Lower 8th Street retail and 7th Street retail including Eastern Market. In addition, she would develop a portion of the “north parcel” for a “tot lot” partly funded by Stanton Development. Stanton committed $50,000 to development of a playground in the park as part of the negotiated benefits and amenities for the community during the Hine Development PUD process.

The accompanying public relations contract describes a tightly managed public input process designed to produce an outcome in support of the plan. In fact, if it develops that what is being proposed is a general beautification of the area, the extent and nature of any opposition seems doubtful.

On the other hand, it seems clear that the study is being driven, in part, by the necessity to spend funds which will otherwise be lost. And given both the uncertainty regarding funding yet another project in an era of tight budgets and the lack of obvious city impetus for the plan, it seems likely that an additional motive for putting the proposal back in play is meant to take advantage of what backers hope will be the election of Councilmember Tommy Wells as mayor, and anticipation of his support. The study will take 7 – 9 months and could begin as early as May 1, 2013.

Same cast of characters. The usual suspects who steer lucrative contracts to one another, contribute to Wells, and get city money through Wells. All using our tax money.
These croney arrangements are what is wrong with government, both at local and federal levels. The well-connected get richer. Taxpayers get screwed. And they are anxious to expedite this to limit our input. Why should they care what we want?

I’m sure many of us would have ideas about how to fork out $500,000 on spiffing up the Plaza and 8th Street itself. For starters, how about some seating in the Plaza and down 8th Street, not to mention some decent grass and shrubs and plants….. and if the kids need something, some traditional playground/park swings, etc would surely hit the mark…..? As for the ‘confidential’ mention in the blog: when were we, the nearby residents, going to hear about this proposal? And, as for the two previous comments: agree. If this all goes down the Eastern Market neighborhood is going to be dubbed Weinstein-Land…..

Taken at face value, the intended “retention of the Pennsylvania Avenue roadbed” constitutes a significant concession by this persistent group of insiders to “minority” (i.e., the actual homeowners affected ) interests. We minority members will no doubt continue to be interested as this second act plays out.

By “minority” BRMS refers to the small but vocal opponents who basically opposed any change on principle, even change which would drastically improve the sites and have minor but beneficial impact on traffic and improved pedestrian useability (ie the favored traffic circle). They’re less open to public input early because this same group will continue to reflexively obstruct.

Oh, please please PLEASE spare us from another Amy Weinstein project inflicted on the Hill. Her design for the Hine School project is a debacle and her precious twittering defense of it in community meetings was appalling. Amy is a perfectly nice person but why serious people support her generic tedious designs is one of the Hill’s great mysteries.

Let’s see the re-design plan before we rush to condemn it. This “square” is an eyesore and it is embarrassing that it is the first thing that many first-time visitors to the neighborhood see when they arrive at the Eastern Market metro station. Pedestrian flow is horrible – the alignment of the streets practically begs for jay-walking across the barren median.